Handle



1965 M. A. SOUTHCOTT ETAL 3,212,123

HANDLE Filed July 2, 1962 fII:l l

MAM/WA. Saar/marry? W/LL/AM 0 ZAA/YOA/ INVENTORS' BY W164 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,212,123 HANDLE Marvin A. Southcott, San Francisco, and William C. Lanyon, San Jose, Calif., assignors to Ampex Corporation, Redwood City, Calif., a corporation of California Filed July 2, 1962, Ser. No. 206,975 8 Claims. '(Cl. 16114) This invention relates to electronic circuit mounting boards, and particularly to handles for such boards.

Electronic circuit boards are usually inserted slidably into racks. In the art, such boards have always been characterized by the difiiculty with which they may be grasped by the fingers for insertion or removal.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a circuit board that is adapted for ready grasping by the fingers.

It is another object of this invention to provide a handle of minimum size for a circuit board, said handle being quickly and easily mountable in a restricted space on an edge of said board.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a handle as above described that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture from readily available materials and is rugged and long-lived in use.

A typical circuit mounting apparatus in accordance with th invention includes a circuit board punched with a hole near one edge, and a resilient plastic clip for enclasping the web portion of the board between the hole and edge. The clip has a substantially C-shaped cross-section, one hook of which engages the board edge, and the other hook of which engages the inner wall of the hole nearest the board edge. The body of the clip is shaped to provide a suitable grip for the fingers. The clip can be quickly snap-fitted on the board and is thereafter permanently secured.

A better understanding of the invention will be had with reference to the following description taken in consideration with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a bottom plan of a portion of a circuit board with a handle mounted thereon according to the invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section taken along the plane of lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the manner in which the clip 16 is grasped by an individual wishing to move the circuit board.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 there is shown a portion of a circuit board 11 including one edge 12. Near the edge 12 and in spaced relation thereto is formed a punched hole 13 defining a web portion 14 between the hole 13 and edge 12. A clip 16 is mounted in such a way as to enclasp the web portion 14. As shown in FIGURE 2, the clip 16 has a substantially C-shaped cross-section including a back portion 17 engaging the upper fiat face 18 of the circuit board and web portion 14 thereof, a hook portion 19 engaging the edge face 12 of the board and the lower fiat face 21 of the board and web portion 14, and a hook portion 22 engaging the inner wall 23 of the hole 13 that is closest to the edge face 12.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the back portion 17 and hook portion 19 are formed as an integral body having a generally triangular form, as seen in plan, with one apex of the triangle overlapping a portion of the hole 13. At this apex, the hook portion 22 is formed as a protruding ICC cylindrical stud 24 that is cut away on one side to form a notch 26 conforming to the portion of the Web 14 that includes the wall 23 and faces 18 and 21. This structure thus presents an off-set tip 27 defining a flange 28 for hooking around and engaging the web. The other book portion 19 of the device conforms in plan view to the same substantially triangular outline as that of the back portion 17.

As an important feature of the invention, the diameter of the stud portion 24 is substantially less than the diameter of the hole 13, so that the stud portion 24 can be easily snap-fitted through the hole; and yet when fully mounted, the notch 26 and flange 28 engage only the wall 23 and web 14, being held securely in this engagement by the action of the hook portion 19.

As another feature of the invention, the back portion 17 and lip portion 29 of the member are formed with substantially greater thickness adjacent the edge of the board and with surfaces tapering convergingly in the direction of the stud portion 22 so as to form an effective grasping mass for the fingers of an operator. Grooves 31 are provided in the surfaces to assist in the grasping operation.

As another feature of the invention, the triangular base portion of the clip adjacent the edge 12 of the board is formed with a fiat face 32 and bordering raised ridges 33 for the purpose of mounting identifying markings for the circuit board.

In operation, the operator first punches or bores the hole 13 in a circuit board at a predetermined spacing, as above described, from the edge 12 at which he desires to mount the clip. He then engages the lip 29 and hook portion 19 of the clip around the edge 12 of the board and presses the apex portion including the stud member 24 through the hole 13. The clip is made of a resilient material such as plastic and has suflicient springiness to distort under the pressure of this operation, so that the stud portion 24 snaps through the hole and is thereafter firmly engaged around the wall 23 of the hole.

Thus there has been described an electronic circuit mounting apparatus including a circuit board punched with a hole near one edge and a resilient plastic clip for enclasping the web portion of the board between the hole and edge.

What is claimed is:

1. A handle for mounting on an electronic circuit board having a pair of flat faces and a transverse hole formed therethrough in spaced relation to the edges of said board, comprising:

a resilient clip member having a back portion defining a surface conforming to a first plane for engaging one fiat face of said board and a hook-shaped portion extending from said back portion in a first direction normal to said first plane for engaging one of said edges and the other fiat face of said board;

said member being provided with a stud portion extending from said back portion in said first direction for protrusion into one orifice of said hole and for engaging the interior wall of said hole that is closest to said one edge;

said stud portion also being formed for extension outwardly through the other orifice of said hole and being provided with an offset tip defining a flange extending toward said hook-shaped portion of said member and for engaging said other flat face of said board;

whereby said member may be resiliently clipped to said board so as to be locked in place thereon, said member providing in effect an enlargement of said board suitable for grasping with the fingers. 2. A handle for an electronic circuit board having a pair of flat faces and a transverse hole formed therethrough in spaced relation to the edges of said board, comprising:

a back portion defining a surface conforming to a first plane for engaging one flat face of said board and a hook-shaped portion extending from said back portion in a first direction normal to said first plane for engaging one of said edges and the other flat face of said board; said member being provided with a stud portion extending from said back portion in said first direction for protrusion into one orifice of said hole and for engaging the interior wall of said hole that is closest to said one edge; said stud portion also being formed for extending outwardly through the other orifice of said hole and being provided with an offset tip defining a flange extending toward said hook-shaped portion for engaging said other flat face of said board; said stud portion, including the offset tip thereof, being substantially smaller in diameter than said hole;

whereby said member may be resiliently clipped to said board so as to be locked in place thereon, said member providing in effect an enlargement of said board suitable for grasping with the fingers. 3. A handle for an electronic circuit board having a pair of flat faces and a transverse hole formed therethrough in spaced relation to one edge of said board, comprising:

a resilient clip member having a back portion defining a surface conforming to a first plane for engaging one fiat face of said board and a hook-shaped portion extending from said back portion in a first direction normal to said first plane for engaging said one edge and the other fiat face of said board; said member being provided with a stud portion extending from said back portion in said first direction for protrusion into one orifice of said hole and for engaging the interior wall of said hole that is closest to said one edge; said stud portion also being formed for extending outwardly through the other orifice of said hole and being provided with an offset tip defining a flange extending toward said hook-shaped portion for engaging said other flat face of said board; said stud portion, including the offset tip thereof, being substantially smaller in diameter than said hole; and

said handle being tapered to have substantially greater thickness normal to said first plane at said hook portion than at said stud portion;

whereby said member may be resiliently clipped to said board so as to be locked in place thereon, said member providing in effect an enlargement of said board suitable for grasping with the fingers.

4. A handle for an electronic circuit board having a pair of flat faces and a transverse hole formed therethrough in spaced relation to one edge of said board, comprising:

a resilient clip member having a back portion defining a surface conforming to a first plane for engaging one flat face of said board and a hook-shaped portion extending from said back portion in a first direction normal to said first plane for engaging said one edge and the other fiat face of said board;

said member being provided with a stud portion extending from said back portion in said first direction for protrusion into one orifice of said hole and for engaging the interior wall of said hole that is closest to said one edge;

said stud portion also being formed for extending outwardly through the other orifice of said hole and being provided with an offset tip defining a flange extending toward said hook-shaped portion for engaging said other flat face of said board; said stud portion, including the offset tip thereof, being substantially smaller in diameter than said hole;

said handle having a length from said hook-shaped portion to said stud portion and a width normal to said length in said first plane with said width being greater than said length; and

said handle being tapered to have substantially greater thickness normal to said first plane at said hook portion than at said stud portion;

whereby said member may be resiliently clipped to said board so as to be locked in place thereon, said member providing in effect an enlargement of said board suitable for grasping with the fingers.

5. Apparatus as characterized in claim 4, wherein said back and hook-shaped portions have a flat face on the side thereof lying parallel to said first direction for the mounting of identifying inscriptions, and said hookshaped portion includes a lip portion extending toward and confronting said flange of said stud portion tip for engaging said other fiat face of said board.

6. An electronic circuit mounting apparatus adapted for ready grasping by the fingers, comprising:

an electronic circuit board having a pair of fiat faces and a transverse hole formed therethrough in spaced relation to the edges of said board; and

a clip member having a back portion defining a surface conforming to a first plane and engaging one flat face of said board and a hook-shaped portion extending from said back portion in a first direction normal to said first plane and engaging one of said edges and the other flat face of said board;

said member being provided with a stud portion extending from said back portion in said first direction and protruding into said hole and engaging the interior wall of said hole that is closest to said one edge;

whereby said member may be snap clipped to said board so as to be locked in place thereon, said member providing in effect an enlargement of said board suitable for grasping with the fingers.

7. An electronic circuit mounting apparatus adapted for ready grasping by the fingers, comprising:

an electronic circuit board having a pair of flat faces and a transverse hole formed therethrough in spaced relation to the edges of said board; and a resilient clip member having a back portion defining a surface conforming to a first plane and engaging one flat face of said board and a hook-shaped portion extending from said back portion in a first direction normal to said first plane and engaging one of said edges and the other flat face of said board;

said member being provided with a stud portion extending from said back portion in said first direction and protruding into one orifice of said hole and engaging the interior wall of said hole that is closest to said one edge;

said stud portion also extending outwardly through the other orifice of said hole and being provided with an offset tip defining a flange extending toward said hook-shaped portion and engaging said other flat face of said board;

whereby said member may be resiliently clipped to said board so as to be locked in place thereon, said member providing in effect an enlargement of said board suitable for grasping with the fingers.

8. A handle for a board having a relieved portion in at least one flat face thereof in spaced relation to the edges of said board, comprising:

a back portion defining a surface conforming to a first plane for engaging said one flat face of said board, said back portion having a length on the order of the 5 6 distance between said relieved portion and one of said handle being tapered to have substantially greater said edges of said board; thickness normal to said first plane at said hooka hook-shaped portion extending from said back por- Shaped Portion than at Said Stud P tion in a first direction normal to said first plane for engaging said one edge and another flat face of said 5 References Cited by the Exammer board; UNITED STATES PATENTS a stud portion extending from said back portion in said 1 973 939 9 34 ,Lukacs 129 g first direction for protrusion into said relieved or- 2,222,33 11 40 Dome'u f 1 11 tion of said board; 0 2,574,411 11/ 511 'Pashby 29427 X said hook-shaped portion having a width perpendicular 1 to said length in said first plane, said width being DONLEY STOCKING Primary Exammer' greater than said length; and ANDRER H. NIELSON, Examiner. 

1. A HANDLE FOR MOUNTING ON AN ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BOARD HAVING A PAIR OF FLAT FACES AND A TRANSVERSE HOLE FORMED THERETHROUGH IN SPACED RELATION TO THE EDGES OF SAID BOARD, COMPRISING: A RESILIENT CLIP MEMBER HAVING A BACK PORTION DEFINING A SURFACE CONFORMING TO A FIRST PLANE FOR ENGAGING ON FLAT FACE OF SAID BOARD AND A HOOK-SHAPED PORTION EXTENDING FROM SAID BACK PORTION IN A FIRST DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID FIRST PLANE FOR ENGAGING ONE OF SAID EDGES AND THE OTHER FLAT FACE OF SAID BOARD; SAID MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH A STUD PORTION EXTENDING FROM SAID BACK PORTION IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION FOR PROTRUSION INTO ONE ORIFICE OF SAID HOLE AND FOR ENGAGING THE INTERIOR WAL OF SAID HOLE THAT IN CLOSEST TO SAID ONE EDGE; 